The Turlock Irrigation District enacted a sweeping set of new penalties for irrigation water thieves earlier this month, but it hasn't had to use them yet. The new penalties, adopted June 4, have thieves facing thousands of dollars in fines, reduced water availability, and the potential of losing all access to TID water. The district launched a new irrigation water theft tip line on June 11, and has been conducting increased patrols of canals in search of thieves.
